HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 531374,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/531374/?format=api",
"text_counter": 346,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I can understand the frustration and suspicion that sometimes come when we talk about arid lands, drought and range management. This is because in the past, institutions have been formed ostensibly to tackle issues of drought. Even a Ministry was formed in the last Government to deal with those arid areas affected mostly by drought. However, the residents of those areas have nothing to show for what those institutions did. Dams and water pans have been dug, but they have not yielded any useful effect. That is why when we talk about an authority to deal with drought again, many Kenyans are suspicious. I hope that should this authority be formed, it is important that its functions are spelt out clearly and it does not conflict with the roles of other institutions, especially the county governments. We hope that it will be complementary and that they will deal with policies, just as the national Government is assigned issues of policies, but the implementation is left to the counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also believe that by forming this institution, it will not take away any responsibility or funding allocations from the county governments. As I speak, we are seeing that even in the current budget; some Ministries are still performing functions that were long devolved. We still see Ministries constructing water dams. Constructing water dams is a function that should be done by the counties. I want to support the idea that the climate change effect is not specific to certain counties. It affects all counties. If any part of the country is in problem, all tax payers in Kenya are equally affected. Even the high potential counties are also affected by climate change. I have talked about floods. This year, the rains have delayed, but counties like Narok, Bomet and Migori have not had their usual rainfall and we think there is going to be shortage of food. The little that was harvested in the North Rift, despite the imminent shortage of food or maize, the Government through the Ministry in charge of procuring and storing that maize is not doing anything. Lorries have been queuing in Moi’s Bridge, Eldoret and Kitale depots, but the Government is not buying the maize. Instead the price of maize has been reduced while the cost of production has been going up. As I am talking now, Trans Nzoia has not received the DAP fertiliser. Last year my county was able to distribute about 200,000 bags of fertilizer. This year we have only received 20,000. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we discuss the issue of drought management, we should also know that drought management depends on how we utilize the high potential areas to support the areas affected by drought. Regarding the issue of security; banditry and cattle rustling, unfortunately and invariably, happens in the same areas that are constantly affected by drought. This is an area that has to be tackled in terms of security so that we can comfortably say that we can handle issues of drought. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, education for the children from areas affected by drought is key. As I speak now, some parents in those areas are not able to send their children to school because their livestock has been decimated, foot and mouth diseases has affected their livestock and, the other day, the markets were closed. I hope if an institution like this is formed, it should tackle those issues such that it does not only address drought, but also mitigate in terms of supporting the children from those areas to get education. If the population in those areas is educated and can earn The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}